The third time might be the charm in Edgartown’s quest to sell the Warren House, a run-down North Water street mansion.
About a year after the town advertised the circa-1790 home, the Edgartown selectmen received three bids on the old house, two offering $2.5 million and one offering $1.5 million. The selectmen voted to reject the $1.5 million bid because it did not meet the minimum asking price.
“We have a tie,” selectman Michael Donaroma said.
The selectmen voted to take the other bids under advisement and consult with town counsel; the bid will be awarded at their meeting next week.
Mr. Donaroma said that it was his understanding that the earliest bid would be the winner. Town administrator Pamela Dolby said that town counsel would look over the bids to see if everything was in order and will make a recommendation to the selectmen.
Wayne Grigull and Janet Hiebert bid $2.5 million, as did Jeffrey Wolk. Matt Dyroff was the $1.5 million bidder. The town is not releasing any further information about the applicants and their plans until next week.
The town bought the Warren House in 2004 for $3.5 million; at the time a plan was underway to build an addition onto the library next door. Those plans later were scrapped and a new library will now be built elsewhere. Residents voted at town meeting to sell the house, which is now in a state of disrepair.
The house was first advertised in the central registry last fall with a $2.5 million minimum bid. There were no bids, and the second bidding process began in December with no minimum. The second round of bidding drew a bid of $1.25 million cash or $1 million and 40 per cent of proceeds. The selectmen rejected that offer in June, saying it would not meet the town’s obligations. The third time and most recent request for proposals had a minimum bid of $2.3 million.
In other business, the selectmen opened bids for a new fire truck for Chappaquiddick. Rosenbauer bid $253,360, and KME Kovatch bid $236,983. The new truck will replace a 1978 truck; town meeting voters approved the purchase in April.
Fire chief Peter Shemeth and town counsel will look over the bids.
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